It takes a village: Building networks for youth well-being

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Anna Zunino, Maurizio Panza, Samuele Dagliano, Costanza Franceschi, Alessia Teneggi, Alessia Vanara
Publishing Year 2025 Issue 2025/3
Language Italian Pages 16 P. 96-111 File size 147 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2025-003008
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This article aimss to present the reflections that accompanied the process of setting up the “Generazioni in Gioco” (Generations at Play) Centre, a service of ASL2 Savona aimed at young people aged 14 to 25. The idea of the Centre arose from the awareness that the health needs of the adolescent population are rarely intercepted by the territorial health services, which are now configured to deal almost exclusively with the deep malaise expressed by adults: hence the decision to give life to “other” space, in which the questions of meaning brought by adolescents can find acceptance. Proposing itself as a filter between users’ needs and second-level services, the service has gradually recognised the need to broaden its gaze to respond to the needs emerging from daily work with existential fragilities. The complexity and multiformity of the psychological questions brought by the users highlighted the need for a rethinking of the methodologies and intervention strategies initially limited to taking charge and care, leading to a reorientation of actions towards health promotion paths. The Centre has thus committed itself to building and strengthening connections between the territorial realities that, with different ownership, deal with adolescents (school, health services, social services, third sector, local associations), convening them on the common goal of protecting adolescent’s developmental itineraries and promoting their personal and social skills, in the awareness that it takes a village to raise a child.

Keywords: adolescence, networking, territory, health promotion.

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Anna Zunino, Maurizio Panza, Samuele Dagliano, Costanza Franceschi, Alessia Teneggi, Alessia Vanara, Ci vuole un villaggio: costruire reti per il benessere dei giovani in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 3/2025, pp 96-111, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2025-003008